Labor to protect fans from online ticket scalping websites

A LABOR federal government would target ticket scalpers, banning bots and capping resale prices nationally under their Soundtrack Australia contemporary music policy.

The measures would aim to reduce the scalping activities of offshore sites such as Viagogo that offer overpriced and fake tickets within minutes of concerts and sporting events going on sale on official ticketing platforms.

Artists and managers who have campaigned for stronger government action to protect ticket buyers from scalping will join Opposition Leader Bill Shorten for the policy launch at the Oxford Arts Factory in Sydney today.

Gang of Youths frontman Dave Le’aupepe presented the politicians with evidence from managers and bands about how fans have been gouged by the online ticket touts.

Dozens of fans are believed to have fronted at concerts during the Gang of Youths’ completely sold-out national tour this month, bearing fake tickets they unwittingly bought online.

Missy Higgins said many music fans had been cheated by the online scalpers often because they were not aware websites such as Viagogo were not legitimate ticket sellers.

“If someone googles my name and the word ‘tickets’ the first thing that comes up is a link to Viagogo,” Higgins said.

Based in Switzerland, the website had tickets for the Red Hot Chili Peppers concerts in February, which went on sale on Monday, within minutes of disappointed fans trying to buy them on Ticketek and Ticketmaster being informed the shows had sold out.

The American funk rockers offered their tickets officially for $101.75, but seats now cost upwards of $254 on Viagogo.